HOW TO TRANSPORT THE AQUARIUM FISH?

There comes the time when you carry out your plan to have your own aquarium and fish, you are already in the shop and buy future residents of a beautiful water tank and now your are faced with a challenge – how to transport them safely home? You will also have to face a similar task when moving. Transporting the fish is a very important issue, because mistakes can result in health problems or may even endanger their lives.

Fish transport in a plastic bag

You are certainly familiar with the sight of fish being transported in a plastic bag. But don’t let looks fool you! It can’t be a standard grocery store bag. Using it for transporting living organisms could be disastrous, because you have no guarantee that it is leakproof. What’s more, there is also uncertainty as to what kind of plastic it is made of, so it is possible that in contact with water, the plastic will start to release toxins and poison the fish. This is why pet shop owners offer special bags. They are made of safe materials and have rounded edges, which protects the fish from getting stuck in sharp corners.

During transport the fish need oxygen, so the bag should be filled with water to 1/3 of its height. This will provide the aquarium inhabitants with the necessary air. Remember that the bag with the fish should be transported in a stable upright position. It is best to place it in a box (the darkness reduces the stress of the transported animals). The time of year when you make the purchase is also important. In winter you should ensure thermal insulation in the form of a Styrofoam container. You can also use special heat-insulating boxes intended for transporting food.

What happens next? When you get home, don’t put the fish in the aquarium right away. The change of the temperature and water environment can be a shock to them. Therefore, place the bag in the aquarium and wait until the water in the bag equals the temperature in which they will eventually stay. Then add some aquarium water to the bag and wait a quarter of an hour, then repeat this procedure and move the fish to their home with a net after another 15 minutes. Note! Do not pour water from the transport bag into the aquarium as it is heavily contaminated with metabolites that the stressed fish produced during transport.